What Went Down On Night 3 Of The DNC

For the most part, this was the smoothest night of the DNC so far. Lots of policy meat and potatoes about immigration, climate change and gun violence. And importantly, it seemed like the goal was to not only knock Trump, but also to build up Biden’s candidacy. Polls show a sizable majority of Biden voters say they’re backing him because they don’t like Trump, not because they’re voting for Biden. So understandably, the Biden campaign probably would like to get more voters enthusiastic about his candidacy and not just about voting against Trump.

I was not expecting the DNC to make some good TV — but they did tonight! And Barack Obama’s speech, as I think most of us were expecting, was pretty relentless in its attacks on Trump. Of the two, I still think Michelle Obama’s speech is the highlight — it just felt better pitched to the moment, when it really does feel like the world is falling apart. Harris had a tough job, making her speech from the empty convention hall. Like I said earlier, I think I get why they made that choice, but they might have been better off leaning entirely into the virtual setting. The DNC has proven surprisingly good at it!

I think this was a night where Democrats hit their marks, but it was also a bit of a roller coaster emotionally and substantively, and it brought home both the strengths and weaknesses of a virtual convention. Though come to think of it, you could say all of that about Night 1 or Night 2, too.